Amid reports pointing to Saudi Arabia allegedly carrying out a brutal assassination of Washington Post journalist and United States resident Jamal Khashoggi, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) is facing mounting backlash over its multi-million dollar live event deal with the kingdom. And with the company having direct ties to the White House, Capitol Hill is putting pressure on the sports entertainment giant to reconsider its fruitful Saudi relationship just weeks before its next massive event in Riyadh.

“This is a brazen assault on the freedom of the press and a slap in the face to the United States, if this murder occurred as it seems it did,” Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) told IJR when asked about the upcoming WWE event. Murphy not only sits on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he also represents Connecticut, where WWE headquarters are located.

In three weeks, WWE, the pro wrestling juggernaut founded by Chairman Vince McMahon, is set to hold its second massive, Super Bowl-like event in Saudi Arabia when it brings WWECrown Jewel to King Saud University Stadium as part of its ten-year multi-million dollar deal with the kingdom. But with reports continuing to emerge detailing the alleged kidnapping and killing of Khashoggi, a vocal critic of the kingdom, the WWE’s lucrative deal could be in jeopardy.

“Because [Linda McMahon] is part of the president’s cabinet […] the administration really should give it some thought and maybe even prevail upon them not doing it.”

“I’d hope that they would be rethinking their relationship with the kingdom especially with respect to events coming up in the next weeks like [WWE Crown Jewl],” Murphy added.

The kingdom has denied killing Khashoggi and has insisted he left the consulate shortly after he arrived.

Other senators on the Senate Foreign Relations committee also expressed concern over WWE’s upcoming Saudi event, including Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), who at first acted surprised by the news regarding the future event, told IJR that the company “should be taking a hard look” at its relationship with the kingdom moving forward.

YouTube/WWE

“There should be a pause,” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told IJR concerning WWE’s business dealings with the kingdom. The South Carolina Republican has been one of the more vocally aggressive senators following the news Khashoggi’s disappearance, saying that “there would be hell to pay” if the missing Washington Post contributor was killed by the Saudi government, as Turkish officials have claimed.

“I want a complete rethinking of our relationship,” Graham added.

To make things even more complicated for the WWE’s business dealings with Saudi Arabia, the company’s co-founder, Linda McMahon, who is also married to the current chairman and CEO, is in the Trump administration as Small Business Administrator, a tie that should lead the president to consider asking McMahon to halt dealings with the kingdom, according to one senator.

“Private enterprise is private enterprise, different than a governmental entity,” Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) told IJR, “but because [Linda McMahon] is part of the president’s cabinet, it falls into the grey area where the administration really should give it some thought and maybe even prevail upon them not doing it.”

IJR reached out to McMahon’s office for comment but has yet to hear back.

In response to the growing pressure linked to the November Saudi event, WWE provided IJR with only the following statement: “We are currently monitoring the situation.”

WWE has already taken serious heat for its recent lucrative dealings with the kingdom, sparking controversy during the company’s first major live event in the country earlier this year for excluding women performers from the show while also airing anti-Iran propaganda during the event.

“I understand that people are questioning it, but you have to understand that every culture is different and just because you don’t agree with a certain aspect of it, it doesn’t mean it’s not a relevant culture,” Paul “Triple H” Levesque, WWE’s Executive Vice President, Talent and a performer said back in April.

“While women are not competing in the event, we have had discussions about that and hope that, in the next few years they will be,” he added.

What do you think?

You can flag a comment by clicking its flag icon. Website admin will know that you reported it. Admins may or may not choose to remove the comment or block the author. And please don't worry, your report will be anonymous.

The Safety of our WWE are Priority.. Anything that stands in the way of that, should be Terminated.. Loyal fan of Roman Reigns…

Vote Up0Vote Down

5 months ago

Guest

Bob Singer

You can flag a comment by clicking its flag icon. Website admin will know that you reported it. Admins may or may not choose to remove the comment or block the author. And please don't worry, your report will be anonymous.

Keep the show. Business is business. A Saudi citizen disappearing in a Saudi Mission in Turkey is none of our business. Let the Saudis and Turks handle this and quit sticking America’s nose in other peoples business.

Vote Up0Vote Down

5 months ago

Member

Phyllis Softa

You can flag a comment by clicking its flag icon. Website admin will know that you reported it. Admins may or may not choose to remove the comment or block the author. And please don't worry, your report will be anonymous.

Kashoggi fled Saudi Arabia and was given permanent residency status in the US in 2008. How would the US not be involved?

Vote Up0Vote Down

5 months ago

Guest

azoreseuropa

You can flag a comment by clicking its flag icon. Website admin will know that you reported it. Admins may or may not choose to remove the comment or block the author. And please don't worry, your report will be anonymous.

Disgusting.. Trump doesn’t care about those people. Trump is a cold heartless man and he doesn’t care about anybody but himself. I cannot stand WWE too. Fake and stupid sport. Nonsense.

Again, all Presidents, Mayors, etc are the corrupts. Always.

Vote Up0Vote Down

5 months ago

Guest

Brian Kerk

You can flag a comment by clicking its flag icon. Website admin will know that you reported it. Admins may or may not choose to remove the comment or block the author. And please don't worry, your report will be anonymous.

“you have to understand that every culture is different and just because you don’t agree with a certain aspect of it, it doesn’t mean it’s not a relevant culture,” So… I guess WWE would do an event for the KKK, then? I mean, it’s just a different culture, right? News… Read more »

Vote Up0Vote Down

5 months ago

Guest

Dan

You can flag a comment by clicking its flag icon. Website admin will know that you reported it. Admins may or may not choose to remove the comment or block the author. And please don't worry, your report will be anonymous.

He said that back in April, before the accusations started rolling in. Back then, that *was* the issue on people’s minds, which gives his quote context.

Vote Up0Vote Down

5 months ago

Guest

Otisamsonite

You can flag a comment by clicking its flag icon. Website admin will know that you reported it. Admins may or may not choose to remove the comment or block the author. And please don't worry, your report will be anonymous.

WWE is now involved in international politics? Well put me in The Figure Four then hoist and Piledrive my cranium into the floor. Ludicrous. Where is Khashoggi? Something stinks like camel dung.